Straightening machine



Oct. 11, 1955 w. SIEGERIST STRAIGHTENING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 2, 1953 Oct. 11, 1955 w. L. SIEGERIST 2,720,242

STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 11, 1955 w. 1.. SIEGERIST STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I65 062%. W W

STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Walter L. Siegerist, 'Alfton, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Continental Foundry 8: Machine Company, East Chicago, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application January 2, 1953, Serial No. 329,224

37 Claims. (Cl. 15394) This application relates to straightening machines, and more particularly to such machines for straightening elongate workpieces of uniform cross-section such as bars, rod, tubes and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of an improved straightening machine capable of straightening a large variety of various shapes and sizes of elongate workpieces such as bars, rods, tubes and the like, including many extruded shapes; the provision of an improved straightening machine of the class described which effects straightening of a workpiece by means of bending rolls, and wherein the rolls are capable of adjustment to accommodate different workpieces and/or to vary bending stresses by varying the deflection or bending of the workpiece and/or by varying the longitudinal location of rolls with a consequent varying of the spans of deflection or bending centers, and which rolls are rigidly supported in any position of adjustment so as to assure precision in straightening; the provision of a straightening machine of the class described wherein the bending rolls are overhung rolls and wherein different rolls for different workpieces may be quickly and easily installed and removed; the provision of a straightening machine of the class described in which overloading of bearings is avoided; and the provision of a straightening machine of the class described allowing any two opposed rolls to be positioned with their axes in a common transverse plane to serve as pinch feed rolls. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the structures heerinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a straightening machine of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation as viewed from the left of Fig. 1 with an input section guide removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragment of Fig. 2 with the input section guide in place, showing in solid lines a completely closed position of a roll, and showing in dotted lines a position of this roll corresponding to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. l, with the input section guide and an output section guide removed;

Fig. 5 is a plan of Fig. 3 illustrating the input section guide, and showing the open position of the roll;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on line 66 of Fig. 1 illustrating the output section guide;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7A is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 7A--7A of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7B is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 7B-7B of Fig. 7;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 88 of Fig. 4;

2,720,242 Patented Oct. 11, 1955 Fig. 9 is a persective of an intermediate guide per se; Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on line 1010 of Fig. l; and,

Fig. 11 is a plan showing the output section guide illustrated in Fig. 6.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a straightening machine of this invention is shown to comprise a horizontal bending section H and a vertical bending section V for straightening a workpiece in one pass both in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4). The horizontal bending section is the input section and the vertical bending section is the output section, i. e., the workpiece travels first through the horizontal bending section and then through the vertical bending section. Section H is referred to as the horizontal section because it has bending rolls which act to bend the workpiece in a horizontal plane. Section V is referred to as the vertical section because it has bending rolls which act to bend the workpiece in a vertical plane.

The horizontal bending section comprises a horizontal guide-bending bed 1 supported at its ends on stands 3. and 5. The vertical bending section comprises a horizontal guide-forming bed 7 supported at its ends on bed 7 is ,a series of roll units 21 (four being shown) each including an upper vertical bending roll 23, and a series of roll units (three being shown) each including a lower vertical bending roll 27. The beds 1 and 7 are of identical construction but differently positioned to provide for horizontal positioning of rolls 15 and 19 and vertical positioning of rolls 23 and 27. Roll units 13 and 21 are of identical construction, and roll units 17 and 25 are of identical construction (compare Figs. 7 and 10).

Each of the beds 1 and 7 is of hollow rectangular or box cross-section, being built up of heavy steel plates welded together into an integral construction highly resistant to torsional strains (see Figs. 7 and 10). The four side plates of the box section are designated 29, 31, 33 and 35. These are interiorly reinforced by heavy steel transverse stiffener plates 37. Side plate 35 is narrower than the opposite side plate 31 to accommodate a rail 39 constituted by a bar which extends the full length of one longitudinal edge or corner of the boxsection bed. Each stiflener plate 37 has a corner notch 41 in which the rail is fitted. The bar or rail 39 is welded to the adjacent side plates 29 and 35 and to the stiffener plates 37 so as to be an integral part of the bed.

The face of the rail 39 on the side 35 of the bed is designated 43. The face of the rail 39 on the side 29 of the bed is designated 45. The rail is of such thickness that its face 43 is spaced outward from the plate 35. It has a groove 47 in this face which extends the full length of the rail and which is adjacent its face 45. The sides of the groove are parallel to one another and inclined outward. This provides an undercut triangular rib 49 all along the inner side of the groove and a triangular rib 51 all along the outer side of the groove. The side plate 33 of the bed projects beyond the plate 35 to form a rail 53. The edge 55 of the rail 53 and the face 43 of the rail 39 are machined to provide companion slide surfaces constituting a longitudinal way for roll units 13in the case of the horizontal bending section (see Fig. 7), roll units 21 in the case of the vertical bending section (see Fig. 10). The plate 33 has a longitudinal groove 57 adjacent its edge 55. The plate 29 projects at 58 beyond the plate 31. This projection serves as a key, as will be made clear. The plate 29 is machined at 59 and the face 45'of the bar or rail 39 is machined to provide companion slide surfaces constituting a longitudinal way for roll units 17 in the case of the horizontal bending section (see Fig. 7), roll units 25 in the case of the vertical bending section (see Fig. It will be observed that the longitudinal way provided by edge 55 of rail 53 and face 43 of rail 39 and the longitudinal way provided by surface 59 of plate 29 face 45 of rail 39 are located in planes at an angle to one another and have a common longitudinal corner portion at rail 39.

As illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 and 10, each of the roll unit's13 and 21 comprises a carriage 61 longitudinally slidable on the bed 1 or 7, as the case may be, in a planeparallel to the side 35 of the bed. Each carriage slides on the companion slide surfaces 43 and 55 and, at one side, has an undercut rib 63 which slides in the groove 47 keyingly engaged with undercut rib 49 of the rail 39. At its other side, the carriage has a flange 65 which projects over the side 33 of the bed. Removably attached to the edge of the flange by screws 67 is a gib 69 which slides in the groove 57 in the plate 33. A shim 71 is interposed between the gib and the edge of the flange 65. Set screws 73 are threaded in the flange for engagement with a filler piece 74 to lock the carriage in adjusted position. The carriage 61 is provided with cross guides 75 (see Fig. 7B) defining a guide slot 76 for guiding a roll carrier 77 for crosswise sliding movement, i. e., for movement in a plane parallel to the side 35 of the bed and at right angles to the direction of movement of the carriage. The roll carrier is retained in the'slot by gibs 79.

The roll carrier 77 of the first roll unit 13 of the horizontal bending section is adjusted by means of an air cylinder 81 fixed to the carriage 61 of the first roll unit 13 and having its piston rod 83 attached to the roll carrier (see Figs. 2 and 4). Each of the other roll units 13 and 21 has an adjusting screw 85 for adjusting its roll carrier. Each carriage 61 has an end wall 87. An internally threaded bushing 89 is fixed in an opening in this wall by a set screw 91. The screw 85 is threaded in thisbushing. At its inner end, the screw has a flange 93'' received in a recess 95 in the roll carrier and retained therein by a retaining plate 97.

A roll shaft 99 has a shrink flt at one end in an opening in the roll carrier and extends outward as a cantilever from the roll carrier with its axis at right angles to the plane of movement of the carriage. The roll or 23, as the case may be, is rotary as an idler on a roller bearing 101 on the shaft closely adjacent the roll carrier. The roller bearing is retained on the shaft by a nut 103 threaded on the shaft. The shaft has a threaded reduced-diameter end 105. The roll is removable from the bearing over the end of the shaft. It is retained on the bearing by means of a washer 107 backed by a nut 109 threaded on 105.

As illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 and 10, each of the roll units 17 or 25, as the case may be, comprises a carriage in the form of a hollow cylindrical shaft housing 108 constituting a shaft support. A roll shaft 110 is journalled for rotation in the housing in roller bearings 111 and 113 in the housing. The shaft projects as a cantilever from the forward end of the housing and the roll 19 or 27, as the case may be, is removably retained on the projecting end of the shaft. For this purpose, the shaft has a collar 115 rotary in an opening in a bearing cap 117 at the forward end of the housing. Outward of the collar, the shaft has a roll-receiving section 119 provided with a keyseat 121, and terminates in a reduceddiameter externally threaded end section 123. The roll 19 or 27, as the case may be, is keyed on shaft section 4 119 and held against the collar by means of a washer backed by a nut 127 threaded on 123.

The rearward end of the housing 108 is formed as a gear box 129. Fixed on the rearward end of the roll shaft 110 within the box 129 is a bevel gear 131. This is in mesh with a bevel gear 133 rotary on an axis at right angles to the shaft axis. Gear 133 is journalled in the box internally of a ball bearing 135 so as to be independent of any shaft mounting (see Fig. 7A). The gear has a splined bore 137 for accepting a splined shaft. The ball bearing 135 is retained in the housing by a retainer plate 139. This plate 139 has a central opening receiving the hub of gear 133, and constitutes one side of the gear box. A lubricant seal is provided at 141. Opposite the plate 139 is a plate 143 constituting the opposite side of the box. Plate 143 has a central opening co-axial with the gear 133 in which is rotary a ring 145 for accepting a shaft. A lubricant seal is provided at 147 between the plate 143 and the ring.

The shaft housing 108 is provided adjacent its forward end with an undercut rib 149 which slides in the groove 47 keyingly engaged with the rib 51 of the rail 39. Adjacent its rearward end, the housing 108 has a flange 151 which projects over the edge of the projecting portion 58 of side plate 29 of the bed. Removably attached to the edge of the flange 151 by screws 153 is a gib 157 which extends over the projecting portion 58 of plate 29. A shim 159 is interposed between the gib 157 and the edge of the flange 151. Set screws 161 are threaded in the flange for engagement with a filler piece 163 to lock the shaft housing in adjusted position.

In the horizontal bending section H, the bed 1 is mounted on the stands 3 and 5 with plate 31 as a horizontal bottom plate, plates 29 and 33 as vertical side lates and plate 35 as a horizontal top plate (see Fig. 7). Accordingly, as to the roll units 13, carriages 61 are slidable in a horizontal longitudinal plane on top of the bed 1, and as to the roll units 17, shaft housings 108 are slidable in a vertical plane alongside the bed. The bending rolls 15 have their axes projecting vertically upward from the roll carriers 77 and are individually laterally adjustable. The bending rolls 17 have their axes vertical, the axes of all rolls 17 lying in a common vertical plane. Rolls 15 and 17 are positioned in a common horizontal plane above the bed 1. The groove 47 is located at an upper longitudinal edge of the bed. A splined drive shaft 165 extends through the gears 133 of all the housings 108 in the horizontal section for driving all the bending rolls 19. The spline connection between the shaft and any gear 133 is a slidable connection to permit longitudinal adjustment of any housing 108. The shaft 165 is journalled at its ends in bearings 167 in the stands 3 and 5. Figs. 1 and 4 show in dotted lines an adjusted position of the last housing 108 and roll 19 of the horizontal sec- T tion.

In the vertical bending section V, the bed 7 is mounted on the stands 9 and 11 with plate 29 as a horizontal bottom plate, plates 31 and 35 as vertical side plates, and plate 33 as a horizontal top plate (see Fig. 10). Accordingly, as to roll units 21, carriages 61 are slidable in a vertical longitudinal plane alongside the bed 7, and as to the roll units 25, housings 108 are slidable in a horizontal longitudinal plane under the bed 7. The upper bending rolls 23 have their axes projecting horizontally outward from the roll carriers 77 and are individually adjustable in vertical planes transverse to the bed. The lower bending rolls 27 have their axes horizontal and all lying in a common horizontal plane under the bed 7. The rolls 23 and 27 are positioned in a common vertical plane olfset sidewise from the bed 7. The groove 47 is located at a lower longitudinal edge of the bed and is inclined downward and outward. This avoids collection of scale from the work in the undercut portion of the groove. A splined drive shaft 169 extends through the gears 133 of all the housings 108 in the vertical section for driving all the shaft 175 (Fig. 4) journalled in the stand 11 of the vertical bending section V. Shaft 175 is driven from a motor (not shown) through a belt and pulley drive 177. Fixed on the shaft 175 inside the stand 11 is a pinion 179 in mesh with a gear 181 on the shaft 169. A shaft 183 is journalled in the stand 5 of the horizontal bending section H. This is driven from the shaft 175 via a telescopic shaft 185 and universal joints 187. Fixed on shaft 183 inside the stand 5 is a pinion 189 in mesh with a gear 191 on the shaft 165.

The telescopic shaft 185 and universal joints 187 permit relative adjustment of the horizontal bending section H and the vertical bending section V. For purposes of horizontally and vertically adjusting the horizontal bending section, each of the stands 3 and 5 is supported by two leveling screws 201. The screws extend upward from plates 203 which are horizontally transversely adjustable on base plates 205. Transverse adjustment of the adjusting plates 203 is obtained by means of screws 207 threaded in flanges 209 at the ends of the base plates. Mechanism for turning the leveling screws is generally designated 211, and since this mechanism does not form part of the invention it will not be described in detail.

It will be observed that the arrangement is such that any two opposed rolls 15, 19 or 23, 27 may be positioned, if desired, with their axes in a common transverse vertical plane, to serve as traction or pinch feed rolls. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the roll of the first roll unit 13 and the roll 19 of the first roll unit 17 are positioned with their axes in a common vertical transverse plane to function as a set of pinch feed rolls. The roll carirer 77 of the first roll unit 13 is provided with the air cylinder 81 in order that the pinch feed roll set may be quickly opened and closed. For guiding a workpiece to the pinch feed roll set, there is provided on the carriage 61 of the first roll unit 13 an adjustable input section guide generally designated 221. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, this input section guide comprises a base plate 213 which is attached to the carriage 61 by screws 215. An angle bracket 217 has a vertical back plate 219, a horizontal table plate 222 and a gusset plate 223. In the vertical back plate 219 are vertical slots 225 receiving screws 227 threaded in tapped holes in the base plate 213 and holding the bracket in adjusted vertical position. On the table plate 222 are side guides 229 and 231 each consisting of a length of angle iron. Each side guide has a pair of lateral slots in its horizontal flange, the slots in 229 being designated 233 and those in 231 (which have a wider horizontal flange and longer slots) being designated 235. Screws 237 received in the slots and threaded in tapped holes in the table plate 222 hold the side guides in adjusted lateral position. The entire input section guide 221 is movable with the first roll unit 13, and, by vertical adjustment of the bracket 217 and lateral adjustment of the side guides, may be made to align a workpiece with the pass plane of the pinch feed roll set.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the stand 9 of the vertical output section V carries an output section guide generally designated 241 for guiding a workpiece into the section V. As shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 11, this output section guide comprises an angle bracket 243 having a vertical back flange 245, a horizontal flange 247, and gusset plates 249. The back flange 245 has vertical slots 251 receiving screws 253 threaded in tapped holes in the stand 9 hold? ing the bracket in adjusted vertical position. Fixed on the horizontal flange 247 as by welding is a plate 255, which projects from the bracket toward the input section H. On the projectingpart of the plate. 255 are mounted a fixed side guide 257 and an adjustable top guide 259. The fixed side guide 257 consists of a length of angle iron having a horizontal flange 260 attached to the plate 255 by screws 263 and a vertical flange 265 for side-guiding a workpiece. The top guide 259 consists of a length of angle iron having a vertical flange 267 pivoted for swinging movement on one edge of the plate 255 by means of a pivot screw 269, with its other flange 271 spaced above the plate 255 for top-guiding a workpiece. The vertical flange 267 has an arcuate slot 273 receiving a screw 275 threaded in a tapped hole in the edge of the plate 255 for holding the top guide in adjusted angular position. On the part of plate 255 over the bracket 243 are a pair of side guides 277. Each of these consists of a length of angle iron, having a horizontal flange 279 pivoted by means of a pivot screw 281 on the plate 255, and a vertical flange 283 for sideguiding the workpiece. In the horizontal flange of each guide 277 is an arcuate slot 285 receiving a screw 287 threaded in a tapped hole in the plate 255 for holding the guide 277 in adjusted angular position.

As herein illustrated, the third roll unit 13 of the horizontal section H and the third roll unit 21 of the vertical section V are provided with an intermediate guide, generally designated 291, for confining a workpiece against movement in a vertical plane in the case of the horizontal section and against movement in a horizontal plane in the case of the vertical section (see Figs. 1, 4, 8, 9 and 10). In each instance, the intermediate guide is mounted on the roll carrier 77 of the respective unit 13 or 21 to be adjustable therewith. The guide 291 comprises a base plate 293 which is removably attached to the forward end of the roll carrier 77. by screws 295. A pair of L- shaped members 297 are fixed at one end of the base plate 293 as by welding. A filler block 299 is welded in place between the outer legs of the L-shaped member, which extend at right angles to the carrier 77. The filler block is offset to provide, in conjunction with the outer legs of the L-shaped members, a guideway 301 facing toward the carrier 77. Slidable in this guideway is a triangular block 303 carrying a guide 305 having a guide face directed toward the base legs of the L-shaped members. The guide is held in an adjusted position longitudinally of the guideway by means of a screw 307 extending through an elongate slot 309 in the filler block 299. Guide 305 works in cooperation with a guide 311 carried by a block 313 located between the base legs of the L-shaped members. The guide 311 is movable toward and away from the guide 305 and is held in an adjusted position by a screw 315 extending through another elongate slot 317 in the tiller block 299.

As to the third roll unit 13 of the horizontal section H, the guide 291 is attached to the roll carrier 77 in such manner that the outer legs of the L-shaped memers 297 extend upward, and guides 305 and 311 constitute upper and lower horizontal guides, respectively, for confining a workpiece against vertical movement (see Fig. 8). As to the third roll unit 21 of the vertical section V, the guide 299 is attached to the roll carrier 77 in such manner that the outer legs of the L-shaped memers 297 extend horizontally outward from the roll unit and guides 305 and 311 constitute outer and inner vertical guides, respectively, for confining a workpiece against horizontal movement (see Fig. 10).

In straightening a workpiece such as the square-section tube T illustrated, rolls 15, 19, 23 and 27 are plain cylindrical-surfaced bending rolls. The last three roll units 13 and the last two roll units 17 of the horizontal input section H are adjusted longitudinally on the bed 1 to space the respective bending rolls 15 and 19 at the desired bending span intervals for the workpiece. This is accomplished by sliding the respective carriages 61 and shaft supports 108 longitudinally on the bed 1 to the desired positions, and locking them to the bed by means of screws 73 and 161. The bending rolls 15 are adjusted transversely with respect to the bed by means of adjusting screws to oflset them laterally with respect to rolls 19 at the desired bending deflection distances for the workpiece as related to the bending spans, The roll units 21 and 25 of the vertical output section V are similarly adjusted to obtain the appropriate longitudinal spacing and transverse offset of. rolls' 23 and 27. It will be understood that the rolls are sopositioned that a workpiece fed through the machine is stressed by bending back and forth to a lessening degree in a horizontal plane in the horizontal section until it emerges from the horizontal section horizontally straighened, and by bending back and forth to a lessening degree ina vertical plane in the vertical section until it emerges from the vertical section vertically straightened.

The guide 221 (which is movable with the first roll unit 13 of the horizontal bending section) is adjusted as to height and as to the lateral spacing of members 229 and 231 to guide the workpiece into the pinch roll set constitutedby the first rolls 15 and 19 of the horizontal section. The guide 241 is adjusted as to its height, the inclination of flange 271 of top guide member 259, and the, convergence of side guides 277 to guide the workpiece into the vertical section. The intermediate guides 291 (which are movable with their respective roll carriers 77) are adjusted as to the spacing of guide members 305 and 311 to prevent vertical deflection of the workpiece in the horizontal section (see Fig. 8) and horizontal deflection of the workpiece in the vertical section (see Fig. 10).

The forward end of the workpiece is entered between the first rolls and 19 of the horizontal section constituting the pinch roll set with roll 15 retracted by air cylinder 8. Then, the roll 15 is closed on the workpiece by the air cylinder and the workpiece is fed through the machine by power rolls 19 (powered by shaft 165) and by power rolls. 27 (powered by shaft 169). As the workpiece travels through the machine, it is straightened in its horizontal plane and in its vertical plane by being bent back and forth as above described.

Sets of bending rollsof different shapes may be provided for straightening workpieces of different cross-sectional shapes. Since all the, bending rolls are overhung rolls, and are held on their respective shafts simply by a nut, it isextremely simple to remove and replace the rolls.

The provisions for longitudinal adjustment of all the bending rolls and for lateral adjustment of rolls 15 and 23 permit adjustment of bending spans and deflections for handling an extreme variety of workpiece shapes and sizes, including many extruded shapes, without overloading of the bearings, and assures unusual accuracy.

The box-section bed construction and the arrangement wherein the carriages 61 and the carriages or shaft supports or housings 108 are. both keyed to the bed at one common longitudinal edge .or corner thereof by the cooperating guide means consisting of ribs 63 on carriages 61, ribs 1'49 on the carriages 108 and the grove 47 in bar or rail 39 at said corner is such as to be readily capable of withstanding the severe torsional strains imposed by the bending action without such deflection as would introduce inaccuracy, for all roll positions.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departingfrom the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a straightening machine, a bed having two adjacent sides meeting at a corner, a carriage slidable longitudinally of the bed on one of said sides, a roll carrier slidable on said carriagetransversely of the bed, a shaft extending from the roll carrier outward from said one side of the bed, a roll on said shaft, a shaft support slidable longitudinally of the bed on the other of said sides, a shaft carried by said shaft support extending sub- 8V stantially parallel to said first-mentioned shaft, and a roll on this last-mentioned shaft in the plane of'the firstmentioned roll.

2.- In a straightening machine as setforth in claim- 1, means for driving one of the rolls in any position of adjustment.

3. In a straightening machine as set forth in claim 1, a drive shaft extending longitudinally of the bed, and gearing for driving the shaft of one of said rolls from the drive shaft in any position of adjustment of said one roll.

4. In a straightening machine, a bed of hollow rectangular cross section, a carriage slidable longitudinally of the bed on the outside of one of its sides, a roll carrier slidable on said carriage transversely ofthe bed, an idler roll shaft fixed at one end to the roll carrier and extending from the roll carrier substantially at right angles to said one side of the bed, an idler roll rotary on said shaft, a shaft support slidable longitudinally of the bed on the outside of a side of the bed at right angles to the first-mentioned side, a rotary shaft journalled in said shaft support extending substantially parallel to said idler roll shaft, and a roll fixed on said rotary shaft in the plane of the idler roll.

5. In a straightening machine as set forth in claim 4, means for driving the rotary shaft in any position of the shaft 1 support.

6. In a straightening machine as set forth in claim 4,

a drive shaft extending longitudinally of the bed, a gear.

carried by the said shaft support slidable on the drive shaft and rotary therewith, and a gear on the said rotary shaft in mesh with said gear on the drive shaft.

7. In a straightening machine, a bed having two adjacentsides substantially at right angles to one another, and having a groove extending. the length of the bed at the edge of'the, bed defined by. said two sides, a carriage slidable longitudinally of the bed on one of said sides and having means keyingly engaged with the bed in the groove, a roll carrier slidable on saidcarriage trans-. versely of the bed, a shaft extending from the roll carrier substantially at right angles to said one side of the bed, a roll onsaid shaft, a shaft support slidable longitudinally-of the bed on the other of said sides and having means keyingly engaged with the bed in the groove, a shaft carried .by said shaft support extending substantially parallelto saidtfirst-mentioned shaft, and a roll on the last-mentioned shaft in the plane of the first-mentioned roll.

8. In astraightening machine, a bed of hollow rectangular cross section having a groove extending the length of the bed at the edge of the bed defined by two adjacent sides of the bed, a carriage slidable longitudinally of the bed on one of said two adjacent sides and having means keyingly engaged with the bed in the groove, a roll carrier slidable on said carriage transversely of *the .bed, an idler roll shaft fixed at one end to .the roll carrier and extending from the roll carrier substantially at right angles to said one side of the bed, an idler roll rotary on. said shaft, a shaft support slidable longitudinally of the bed on the other of said two adjacent sides .of the bed and having means keyingly engaged with thebed in the groove, a rotary shaft journalled in said shaft support extending substantially parallel to said idlerrollshaft, and a roll fixed on said rotary shaft in the plane of the idler roll.

9. In a straightening machine as set forth in claim 8, thebed being built up of side plates and internal stifiener plates and the groove being in a bar which extends the full, length of the bed at the said edge.

10. In a straightening machine, a bed of hollow rectangular cross section built up of side plates and internal stiffener plates and havinga bar extending the full length of the bed at one longitudinal edge of the bed, the bar havingannoutsidengroove. extending its full length, the sides of the groove-b'eingparallel. and inclined outward.

ll. In a straightening machine, a bed'having two'adjacent sides meeting at a corner, a series of carriages slidable longitudinally of the bed on one of said sides, a roll carrier slidable on each said carriage transversely of the bed, a shaft extending from each roll carrier outward from said one side of the bed, an idler roll on each said shaft, a series of shaft supports slidable longitudinally of the bed on the other of said sides, a shaft carried by each said shaft support extending substantially parallel to the said first-mentioned shafts, a power roll on each of the last-mentioned shafts in the plane of the idler rolls, and means for simultaneously driving all the power rolls in any position of adjustment.

12. In a straightening machine as set forth in claim 11, the means for driving the power rolls comprising "a drive shaft extending longitudinally of the bed, and gearing for driving all the power roll shafts from the drive shaft in any position of adjustment of the said shaft supports. 13. In a straightening machine, a bed of hollow rectangular cross section, a series of carriages slidable longitudinally of the bed on the outside of one of its sides, a roll carrier slidable on each said carriage transversely of the bed, an idler roll shaft fixed at one end to each roll carrier and extending from the roll carrier substantially at right angles to said one side of the bed, an idler roll rotary on each shaft, a series of shaft supports slidable longitudinally of the bed on the outside of a side of the bed at right angles to the first-mentioned side, a rotary shaft journalled in each .said shaft support extending substantially parallel to said idler roll shafts, and a roll fixed on each said rotary shaft in the plane of the idler rolls.

14. In a straightening machine, a bed having two adjacent sides substantially at right angles to one another, and having a groove extending the length of the bed at the edge of the bed defined by said two sides, a series of carriages slidable longitudinally of the bed on one of said sides and each having means keyingly engaged with the bed in the groove, a roll carrier slidable on each said carriage transversely of the bed, a shaft extending from each roll carrier substantially at right angles to said one sideof the bed, a roll on each shaft, a series of shaft supports slidable longitudinally on the bed on the other of said sides and each having means keyingly engaged with the bed in the groove, a shaft carried by each said shaft support extending substantially parallel to said first-mentioned shafts, and a roll on each of the last-mentioned shafts in the plane of the first-mentioned rolls.

15. In a straightening machine, a bed of hollow rectangular cross section having a groove extending the length of the bed at the edge of the bed defined by two adjacent sides of the bed, a series of carriages slidable longitudinally of the bed on one of said two adjacent sides and each having means keyingly engaged with the bed in the groove, a roll carrier slidable on each said carriage transversely of the bed, an idler roll shaft fixed at one of its ends to each roll carrier and extending from the roll carrier substantially at right angles to said one side of the bed, an idler roll rotary on each said shaft, a series of shaft supports slidable longitudinally of the bed on the other of said two adjacent sides of the bed and having means keyingly engaged with the bed in the groove, a rotary shaft journalled in each said shaft support extending substantially parallel to said idler roll shafts, and a roll fixed on each said rotary shaft in the plane of the idler rolls.

16. A straightening machine comprising a horizontal bending section and a substantially duplicate vertical bending section each comprising a bed having two adjacent sides meeting at a corner, a series of carriages slidable longitudinally of the bed on one of said sides, a roll carrier slidable on each said carriage transversely of the bed, a shaft extending from each roll carrier outward from said one side of the bed, a roll on each said shaft, a series of shaft supports slidable longitudinally of the bed on the other of said'sides, a shaft carried by' each said shaft support extending substantially parallel tothe said first-mentioned shafts, and a roll on each of the lastmentioned shaftsin the plane of the first-mentioned rolls, the bed of the horizontal section being mounted with said shafts vertical and the bed of the vertical section being mounted with said shafts horizontal.

17. A straighteing machine comprising a horizontal bending section and a substantially duplicate vertical bending section each comprising a bed of hollow rectangular cross section, a series of carriages slidable longitudinally of the bed on the outside of one of its sides, a

roll carrier slidable on each said carriage transversely of the bed, an idler roll shaft fixed at one end to each roll carrier and extending from the roll carrier substantially at right angles to said one side of the bed, an idler roll rotary on each shaft, a series of shaft supports slidable longitudinally of the bed on the outside of a side of the bed at right angles to the first-mentioned side, a rotary shaft journalled in each said shaft support extending substantially parallel to said idler roll shafts, and a roll fixed on each said rotary shaft in the plane of the idler roll, the bed of the horizontal section being mounted with its said one side horizontal, and the bed of the vertical section being mounted with its said one side vertical.

18. A straightening machine comprising a horizontal bending section and a substantially duplicate vertical bending section each comprising a bed having two adjacent sides substantially atright angles to one another, and having a groove extending the length of the bed at the edge of the bed defined by said two sides, a series of carriages slidable longitudinally of the bed on one of said sides and having means keyingly engaged with the bed in the groove, a roll carrier slidable on each said carriage transversely of the bed, a shaft extending from each roll carrier substantially at right angles to said one side of the bed, a roll on each shaft, a series of shaft supports slidable longitudinally of the bed on the other of said sides and having means keyingly engaged with the bedin the groove, a shaft carried by each said shaft support extending substantially parallel to said first-mentioned shafts, and a roll on each of the last-mentioned shafts in the plae of the first-mentioned rolls, the bed of the horizontal section being mounted with its said one side horizontal, and the bed of the vertical section being mounted with its said one side vertical.

19. A straightening machine comprising a horizontal bending section and a substantially duplicate vertical bending section each comprising a bed of hollow rectangular cross section having a groove extending the length of the bed at the edge of the bed defined by two adjacent sides of the bed, a series of carriages slidable longitudinally of the bed on one of said two adjacent sides and each having means keyingly engaged with'the bed in the groove, a roll carrier slidable on each said carriage transversely of the bed, an idler roll shaft fixed at one end to each roll carrier and extending from the roll carrier substantially at right angles to said one side of the bed, an idler roll rotary on each said shaft, a series of shaft supports slidable longitudinally of the bed on the other of said two adjacent sides of the bed and having means keyingly engaged with the bed in the groove, a rotary shaft journalled in each said shaft support extending substantially parallel to said idler roll shafts, and a roll fixed on each said rotary shaft in the plane of the idler rolls, the bed of the horizontal section being mounted with its said one side horizontal and on top, and the bed of the vertical section being mounted with its said one side vertical and its said other side on the bottom.

20. A straightening machine as set forth in claim 19 wherein each of the bending sections is provided with means for simultaneously driving all of the respective rotary shafts in any position of adjustment of the shaft supports.

21. A straightening machine as set forth in claim 20 wherein, as to each section, said-drive meanscomprises a drive shaft extending longitudinally of'the bed, a gear carried'by each shaft support slidable on the drive shaft and rotary therewith, and a gear on each rotary shaft in mesh with-the respective gear on the drive shaft.

22. A straightening machine as set forth in claim 20 wherein, as to each section, the bed is built up of side plates and internalstifiener plates, and the groove isin a bar which extends the full length ofthe bed at the said edge of the bed.

23'. A straightening machine as set forth in claim 22, wherein the sidesof the groove are parallel and inclined outward, the bar-in the case ofthe horizontal section being-located at an upper. longitudinal edged the bed, andin the case, of the vertical section being located at a lower longitudinal edge of the bed with the groove inclined downward and outward.

24. A straightening machine as set-forth in claim 19, further comprising an adjustable guide carried by the first carriage of the horizontal section for guiding a workpiece into the horizontal section.

25. A straightening machine as set forth in claim 19, further comprising an adjustable guide mounted'at the entrance of the vertical bending section for guiding a workpiece into the vertical bending section.

26. A straightening machine as set forth in claim 19 wherein one of the roll carriers in the horizontal section carries an adjustable guide for confining a workpiece against vertical movement, and one of the roll carriers in the vertical section carries an adjustable guide for confining a workpiece against horizontal movement.

27. A straightening machine as set forth in claim 19, wherein the first carriage of one of the sections is movable to position the respective roll in-a common transverse plane with the roll of the first shaft support in said section, and the said first carriage has an air cylinder for moving the respective roll carrier.

28. A straightening machine as set forth in claim 19, wherein the first carriage of the horizontal section is movable to position the respective roll in a commontransverse plane with the roll of the first shaft support in said section, and the said first carriage has an air cylinder for moving the respective roll carrier.

29. A straightening machine as set forth in claim 28 wherein the said first carriage carries an adjustable. guide for guiding a workpiece into the horizontal bending section.

30. In a straightening machine, a guide-forming bed having first and second longitudinal ways located inplanes at an angle to one another andhaving. a-common longi-v tudinal corner portion, roll-carrying carriagesislidable on the respective ways, each of said carriages and the bed having cooperating guide means locatedat said common corner portion, roll shafts extending-from said carriages parallel to one another, and rolls on said shaft located in a substantially common plane.

31. In a straightening machine as set forthin claim 30, said common longitudinal corner-portion ofthe ways being constituted by a bar extending longitudinally of the bed.

32. ha straightening machine, a guide-forming bed having first and second longitudinal ways locatedin planes-at an angle to one anotherand having a common longitudinal corner portion, a carriage slidable on one of the ways, a roll carrier slidable on the carriage transversely of thebed, a shaft extending from the roll carrier outward from the bed, a roll on the shaft, a shaft support slidable on the other way, a shaft carried by said shaft support substantially parallel to the first-mentioned shaft, a roll on the last-mentioned shaft substantially in the plane of the first-mentioned roll, and the carriage, the shaft support and the bed having cooperating guide means located at said common corner portion.

33. In a straightening machine as set forth in claim 32, said bed being a built-up bed consisting of side plates and stiffener plates and said common corner portion being constituted by a bar extending longitudinally of the bed.

34. In a straightening machine, a guide-forming bed having first and second longitudinal ways located in planes at an angle to one another and having a common longitudinal corner portion, said corner portion having a longitudinal groove, roll-carrying carriages slidable on the respective Ways, each of said carriages having means keyingly engaged with the bed in the groove, roll shafts extending from said carriages parallel to one another, and rolls on said shafts in a common plane.

35. In a straightening machine as set forth in claim 34, said common longitudinal corner portion being constituted-by a bar extending longitudinally of the bed, said bar having said groove receiving said keying means of the carriages.

36. In a straightening machine, a guide-forming bed having first and second longitudinal ways located in planes at anangle to one another and having a common longitudinal corner portion, said corner portion having a longitudinal groove, a carriage slidable on one of the ways, a roll carrier'slidable on the carriage transversely of the bed, a shaft extending from the roll carrier outward from the bed, a roll on the shaft, a shaft support slidable on the other Way, a shaft carried by said shaft support substantially parallel to the first-mentioned shaft, a roll on the last-mentioned shaft in the plane of the firstmentioned roll, the carriage and shaft support having means keyingly engaged with the bed in the groove.

37. In a straightening machine as set forth in claim 36, said bed beinga built-up bed consisting of side plates and stiffener plates and said common longitudinal corner portion being constituted by a bar extending longitudinally of the bed, said bar having said groove receiving said keying'means of the carriage and shaft support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 482,000 Brainard Sept. 6, 1892 1,003,575 Abramsen Sept. 19, 1911 1,414,371 Nilson May 2, 1922 2,157,760 Kane May 9, 1939 

